i 



' E 525 

ffiioorapbis anb Ipersonal IRecoUections 

Bi2 (5eo. B. TOriQbt 



IReprintet) trom tbe 

©bto arcba^olooical an& Ibistorlcal (Siuarterl^ 

IJolume Biabt, 1899*1900 



•T63 



By Transfer. 



Ok-zSfHh 




^r^-^l^*"*— 



>^ 



o^ 



^2. ^^^ ^^ / <^^i__ 



HON. DAVID TOD. 

BIOGRAPHY AND PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS. 
BY GEORGE B. WRIGHT. 

"Lives of great men all i-emind us 
We can make our lives sublime ; 
Arid, departing, leave behind us 
Footprints on the sands of time." 

"Footprints, that perhaps another 
Sailing o'er life's solemn main, 
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother 
Seeing, shall take heart again." 



— Longfellow. 



Part I. 

BIOGRAPHY OF DAVID TOD. 



David Tod, second of the Civil War liovernors of Ohio, 
was born at Youngstown, Trumbull (now Mahoning) County, 
Ohio, on the 22nd of February, A. D. 1805. 

His father, the Honorable George Tod, settled in Ohio in 
1800, having left his native state-, Connecticut, with many others 
of the early pioneers who settled the Western Reserve. Ohio 
was then a territory, and the same year of his advent George 
Tod was called on by Governor St. Clair to act as Secretary 
in 1802. The same year, when Ohio was admitted into the 
Union as a state, Mr. Tod was elected as one of the Justices 
of the Supreme Court, and held that of^ce seven years in suc- 
cession. 

He was after that re-elected to the same position, but on 
the breaking out of the war of 181 2 with Great Britain he re- 
signed his seat on the bench and tendered his services to the 
Government, and was commissioned Major, and afterwards pro- 
moted to the Colonelcy of the Twelfth Regiment. 

During this struggle he won laurels for his coolness, cour- 
age and heroism, especially at Sackett's Flarbor and Fort Meigs. 

At the close of the war he resigned his commission and re- 
turned to Trumbull County. Soon after this he was elected 
Vol. VIII— 1 ( 101 ) 



102 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications . 

Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, having for his district 
the whole northern part of the state. 

He was a very generous, liberal-minded man, and in the 
old pioneer times when small salaries were paid to all officials, 
with a large family to maintain, he did not accumulate any 
surplus, but fell behind and was compelled to mortgage his Brier 
Hill farm. But he left to his children a "good name, which is 
better than riches." 

His wife, Sallie Isaac, the mother of David Tod, was a 
very beautiful woman, a most excellent wife and mother, wor- 
shipped by her children and beloved by every one who knew 
her. She was the sister of Mrs. Ingersoll, the wife of Governor ^' 
Ingersoll, of Connecticut. To his mother, as well as his father, 
David Tod owed a large share of his native talent and good- 
ness. 

Judge Tod remained on the Common Pleas bench for four- 
teen years, retiring in 1829 at the age of fifty-five. For the 
remainder of his life he pursued his profession of law, attended 
to the management of his Brier Hill farm, near Youngstown, 
and cared for his family. He died in 1841 at the age of sixty- 
seven, esteemed and revered by every one. 

David Tod, reared as a farmer boy at the old Brier Hill 
farm, and being aniong the youngest of his father's children, 
had, with his father's limited means at that early period in Ohio, 
none of the educational advantages or opportunities enjoyed by 
the youth of the present day. His only early education was 
obtained at the day schools, which were held for only a short 
portion of the year. He received his further education at the 
old Burton Academy in Geauga County, Ohio. He paid for 
his school expenses after he became of age. He had great 
native talent, and most excellent judgment of men and things 
material, and his active life and experience afforded him the 
greater part of his education, and he might fairly be said to 
have been self-educated. Although a self-made man. he was 
well fitted to fill any place or position to which he might be 
called. 

He studied law in the office of Colonel Powell Stone, at 
Warren, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1827, at the ag-e 



Hon. David Tod. 103 

of twenty-two. He was then in debt for his tuition, and other 
expenses about one thousand dollars. He commenced practice 
with the Hon. Mathew Burchard. The bar of Trumbull County 
was attended in those days by such able and distinguished prac- 
titioners as the Hons. Elisha Whittlesey, Ebon Martin, Joshua 
R. Giddings, Rufus T. Spaulding, Calvin Pease, Powell Stone, 
Mathew Burchard, John Crowell, Andrew Loomis, Thomas D. 
Webb, and later Benjamin F. Mills, Reuben Hitchcock and 
others. It was regarded as one of the ablest and most dis- 
tinguished bars in Ohio. 

David Tod soon became eminent as a jury lawyer, and 
was very popular, being regarded as one of the strongest in the 
profession. He had a deep-toned, musical voice. He was mag- 
nanimous and genial, of commanding appearance, great socia- 
bility, and was always listened to with delight, and was the life 
and charm of society. 

His practice soon became large and extended, and enabled 
him not only to pay off the debts he had incurred, but also to 
repurchase the old Brier Hill farm, which had been mortgaged 
and sold. This he cherished as his sacred home until the day 
of his death, and he kept it as a home for his father and mother 
while they lived, replacing the old log cabin thereon with a 
good, commodious frame house. 

On June 4, 1832. at the age of twenty-seven, he married 
Maria Smith, daughter of Justice Smith, of Warren, Ohio, one 
of the early settlers there, who built the first grist and saw 
mill in that section of the state. There was then no grist mill 
within sixty miles of Warren. 

From this marriage seven children were born, four boys 
and three girls — Charlotte, John, Henry, George, William, 
Grace and Sallie. The oldest daughter, Charlotte, married Gen- 
eral August V. Kautz, of the regular army in 1866. She died 
in 1868 and her husband, the General, fifteen or eighteen years 
later. 

John Tod, the oldest son, died suddenly at Columbus, Ohio, 
on the 4th of December, 1896, while attending a meeting of 
the State House Commission, of which he was a member. David 
Tod's widow and five children are still living, residing at 



104 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. 

Yoiingstown, Ohio. The old Brier Hill farm and homestead 
still remains, kept and cared for as in the life of its owner. 

In the days of Andrew Jackson, David Tod became his 
ardent admirer, and supported him for the Presidency, and 
attached himself to the Democratic party, although his father 
was a devoted Whig. 

He continued with the Democratic party until its rupture 
at Charleston, South Carolina, in i860, at the Democratic Na- 
tional Convention, where he figured as First Vice-President, 
and subsequently as President at the meeting of the delegates 
at Baltimore, Maryland. These two conventions, no doubt, 
had a strong influence in enlisting him in the cause of the 
Union. 

Pie was appointed postmaster at Warren, Ohio, under Jack- 
son's or \^an Buren's administration, and continued in that posi- 
tion until 1838, when he was elected, in the strong Whig County 
of Trumbull, over his opponent, Hon. John Crowell, as Sena- 
tor to the Ohio Legislature, where he served two years with 
marked ability. 

He continued to practice law until about 1844, when he 
moved to his Brier Hill farm, the old home, to which he was 
so much attached. He then started the project of developing 
the coal in that section, and after long and persistent effort in- 
troducing it into Cleveland, and other lake markets by way of 
the Ohio and Pennsylvania Canal. He was one of the prin- 
cipal agents in carrying forward the scheme of constructing the 
Canal. He was a director of the company for a long time, and 
one of the pioneers in coal shipments from the Brier Hill and 
Girard Mines. In this way he laid the foundation for his fu- 
ture success in amassing wealth, and gave the impetus to the 
great development of the coal and iron trade, and other busi- 
ness of the Mahoning Valley. He was also one of the chief 
and efificient actors and managers in promoting the construc- 
tion of the Cleveland and Mahoning Valley Railroad, of which 
company Jacob Perkins was the first President, and David Tod 
one of the Directors, and after the decease of Mr. Perkins he 
was made the President, and so continued until his death. 



Hon. David Tod. 105 

These enterprises brought Mr. Tod in close touch with the 
laboring classes, and he became their friend and helper, many 
of whom, through his aid and encouragement, became pros- 
perous, and acquired remunerative positions, and thus many 
homes were made comfortable and happy. The railroad from 
Cleveland to Youngstown was opened in 1856, and Mr. Tod, 
not many years afterwards, when the road passed into the con- 
trol of the Atlantic & Great Western Railway Company, had 
the satisfaction of seeing the company relieved of a large and 
embarrassing load of floating debt, which imperiled his entire 
fortune. This was accomplished by his personal efforts and wise 
management, and the value of the stock of the company was 
brought up from thirty per cent, below, to above par. The in- 
habitants of the Mahoning Valley owe to David Tod, more than 
to any other man, the great wealth of that prosperous mining 
and iron manufacturing region. 

To his talents, geniality and goodness of heart may be at- 
tributed his popularity as a speaker, and they will account for his 
nomination by the Democratic party for Governor in 1844, and 
in the then strong Whig state he was defeated by his opponent, 
Mordecai Bartley, by only about twelve hundred votes. 

In the winter or early spring of 1847, Mr. Tod was ap- 
pointed by President Polk, Minister to Brazil to succeed Henry 
A. Wise, of Virginia, who was recalled at the request of Brazil 
in consequence of his arbitrary course which threatened to in- 
volve our country in war with that empire. With the feeling 
existing in that government, the difficulty created by Wise, 
and the total lack of experience on the part of- Mr. Tod in the 
matter of diplomacy and court etiquette, made it a very deli- 
cate and trying position. Nevertheless, he accepted the appoint- 
ment and embarked for Rio in June, 1847, with his wife and 
some of his younger children, and remained there about four 
and a half years, returning home in December, 185 1. 

His native talent and large endowment of common sense, 
with his experience and knowledge of men, enabled him to 
fulfill his mission to the satisfaction of our government and the 
delight of his friends at home. He succeeded while there, not 
only in healing all troubles and difficulties, but in concluding 



106 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. 

a negotiation by which he obtained about $300,000 from that 
government on claims which had been, for more than thirty 
years, the subject of mternational dispute. He was largely 
instrumental in inducing the government to break up the in- 
famous slave trade. He placed the government of Brazil on 
a solid and firm footing of friendship with the United States. He 
so far secured the good will and esteem of the Emperor of Brazil 
as to receive letters addressed to this government of the highest 
commendation. 

He often lent his kind aid and purse to our countrymen 
and sailors residing in Rio, or passing through, and on his 
leaving they presented him with a valuable silver memorial of 
their great esteem and friendship. 

His relations, whether with that empire or with the rep- 
resentatives of other governments there, as well as his efforts in 
behalf of his countrymen, were an entire success. And it may 
safely be said that no representative from this government to a 
foreign court ever surpassed Mr. Tod in diplomatic influence, 
tact and favor. 

On his return home his friends and neighbors, without 
distinction of party, gave him a most cordial ovation, and a 
greeting and welcome of which any one might be proud. Not 
the least gratifying was the heartfelt manner in which all his 
employees met and welcomed him in a body. Having been 
attached so^ long to the fortunes of the Democratic party ; be- 
ing the idol of his Democratic friends in his section of the 
state ; having received positions of honor and trust at their 
hands, and reluctant to change to any new organization, or 
position, politically, he adhered to that old party until i860 in 
spite of all the assaults upon it, and upon its pro-slavery wing 
at the South, made by tlie growing Republican party. 

He was a delegate to the Charleston convention in i860; 
was the First Vice-President while Caleb Cushing was Pres- 
ident. He was strongly in favor of the nomination of Stephen 
A. Douglas, and against yielding to the pro-slavery demands 
of the South, and bid defiance to their threat of seceding from 
the Union if their demands were not complied with ; and when 
they adjourned to Baltimore and the southern delegation left 



Hon. David Tod. 107 

the convention, and Caleb Gushing with them, he took the chair 
and the nomination of Douglas was made by the remaining 
delegates of the party. He gave his support to Douglas with all 
his force and voice during that campaign. 

The withdrawal of the southern delegates, the nomination 
by them of Breckenridge, the defeat of Douglas and the threat 
of secession, made him resolve to stand firmly by the govern- 
ment. 

As soon as the south began to show war, and fired on 
Ft. Sumter, David Tod immediately bent his energies to sus- 
tain the Government, and counseled union of all patriots. On 
the first call for troops he telegraphed President Lincoln, advising 
a call of three hundred thousand volunteers instead of seventy- 
five thousand, and gave his most earnest support to Mr. Lin- 
coln. He immediately subscribed one thousand dollars to the 
Township War Fund, and raised and equipped at his own ex- 
pense the first company of volunteers raised in Youngstown. 
Thenceforward, until the war ended, he sustained the adminis- 
tration of Lincoln with all his power and influence. 

The country being thus in deadly peril, and its unity in 
danger, the patriots of Ohio, including all Republicans, and 
many war Democrats, moved without regard to party to Unite 
for the support of the Union, nominated David Tod for Gov- 
ernor, and elected him in October, 1861, by over eighty-five 
thousand majority. Clement L. \'allandigham, and men of his 
spirit, who were in sympathy with the South, and those who 
feared that the Democratic party might be broken up, still stood 
aloof, and did not support this patriotic nomination, and in the 
end became virtual supporters of the South and a great em- 
barrassment to the Government. 

During 1862 and 1863, two of the stormiest years of the 
war, when matters were still somewhat in chaos, and proper svs- 
tem and organization had not been effected, when supplies of 
men, means, surgeons and nurses were lacking; when large 
numbers of troops were being called for ; when distress and 
discouragement prevailed, and Ohio was threatened with in- 
vasion by Kirby Smith, a Confederate General ; then it was that 
David Tod, with his large heart, his good sense, unbounded pa- 



108 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. 

triotisin and energy, proved to be the right man in the right 
place. He pei formed an enormous amount of labor, and gave 
most efficient aid t:) the country in his very responsible position. 

The care of the soldiers, the sick, wounded and afflicted, 
their wives, dependents and friends, have all good cause to re- 
member Governor Tod. His excellent knowledge and judg- 
ment of men and great care in the appointment of officers, gave 
excellent commaiulers to the troops of Ohio, with very few ex- 
ceptions, and he made as few mistakes in this respect as was pos- 
sible in the great uiultiplicity of appointments and promotions 
to be made. 

He made comparatively few requests of Secretary of War 
Stanton, or I'resident Lincoln, and those he did make were 
maturely considered, and were always found important, and 
therefore prom])tly granted. 

On his retirement from the Executive Office, the Legis- 
lature of Ohio, then in session, passed and published in the vol- 
ume of Ohio Laws for that year, the following most beautiful 
and appropriate joinf resolution and vote of thanks: 

Whereas, Tin- executive term of Governor Tod has been a period 
of unexampled trial to the state and nation, involving the existence of 
the government, and demanding devoted loyalty and extraordinary ex- 
ecutive ability; and 

Whereas, Tm oui opinion these demands have been met by him in 
a manner eliciting the approbation of all loyal men. 

Therefore, the general assembly of the State of Ohio, in the name 
and behalf of the people, of Ohio, feel constrained to award to Governor 
David Tod, upon his retirement from office, this public testimony of our 
approbation and esteem. 

Resolved, Tliat the- thanks of the general assembly of the state of 
Ohio arc hereby tendc led t<^ him for the able, self-sacrificing and de- 
voted manner in whteli he has discharged all the duties of chief magistrate 
of the state ; for his devotion in ministering to the sick and wounded 
soldiers ; for his kindness, courtesy and assistance to the friends and 
families of the soldiers in their anxious inquiries for those exposed in 
camp, upon the battle-fields and in hospitals ; for his pecuniary sacri- 
fices for the soldicr.s' encouragement and comfort; for his patriotic ad- 
dresses made to tlie regiments, from time to time, when going into ser- 
vice ; for his well -arranged system of half-fare tickets, by which the 
relatives of the soldiers were enabled to visit the hospitals and battle- 




< 

'►4 
O 



Hon. David Tod. 109 

fields to convey relief, or bring to their last resting place amid the homes 
of the loyal north, the remains of those who have given their lives for 
their country's protection ; for the enduring memorials to the dead of 
the rank and file in the cemeteries of Spring Grove and Gettysburg; 
for the preservation of peace and order of the state ; for the speedy sup- 
pression of disloyalty and resistance to laws ; for untiring industry in 
the business of the state: for deep-toned loyalty; for the full and faithful 
discharge of the trust which two years ago was entrusted to him by a 
loyal people ; for all this he takes with him into his retirement our 
thanks, our approval, and our desire for his future welfare ^nd happi- 
ness. And when the terrible drama of this infamous rebellion shall 
have closed, his tDfficial discharge of duty will remain a proud monument 
to his memory, and a rich legacy to his children." 

James R. Hubbell, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Charles Anderson, 

President of the Senate. . 

Governor Tod, much worn with the great labor he had 
performed, gladly sought the Brier Hill farm to devote some 
care to his personal affairs needing his attention. 

During his relations with President Lincoln, although some- 
what prejudiced at first, he became his warm friend and ad- 
mirer. He heartily accepted the proclamation to abolish slavery 
as an appropriate means of crushing the rebellion. 

On the retirement of Salmon P. Chase, Secretary of the 
Treasury, President Lincoln, wholly without solicitation of Gov- 
ernor Tod or any intimation of it beforehand, tendered him by 
telegraph that Cabinet position. But being much worn and 
exhausted in his very arduous labor as Exectitive of Ohio, need- 
ing rest at his age, and desirous of looking to his private af- 
fairs, he promptly declined with suitable thanks the honorable 
position so generously tendered him. 

Governor Tod thenceforward devoted his time, care and 
attention to his interesting family of wife and seven children ; 
to the coal and iron works, and the Cleveland and Mahon- 
ing Valley Railroad, of which company he remained President 
until his decease, on November 13, 1868, at the age of sixty- 
three years, eight months and twenty-three days. In Novem- 
ber, 1868, he was elected by the Republicans one of the pres- 
idential electors at large. At the meeting of the Electoral Col- 



110 Ohio Arch, and His. Society PublicatioJis. 

lege held at Columbus on December i?t, 1868, seventeen days 
after his death, the following gentlemen were appointed to re- 
port resolutions expressive of the sense of the College in re- 
gard to his death : Stanley Matthews, E. F. Schneider and F. 
Kinsman. The Committee reported the following resolutions, 
which were unanimously adopted : 

Whekeas, David Tod, formerly governor of Ohio, who departed this 
life on the 13th of November, 18()8, had been chosen a member of the 
Electoral College for the state, at large ; and 

Whereas, It is peculiarly appropriate that we give expression to our 
feelings in regard to his decease, be it therefore 

Resolved, That we deeply deplore the loss that the State and Nation 
have sustained in the death of this distinguished citizen ; that his public 
career and services, especially his patriotic course at the outbreak of the 
rebellion, and his distinguished and invaluable labor as Executive of 
Ohio during one of the most critical periods of the war. have earned for 
him the lasting gratitude of the people, and made his name precious to 
every lover of his country. 

Resolved, That while we cherish with pride the public reputation of 
the deceased, we remember also his exalted character and sterling worth 
as a man ; his noble and generous qualities as a friend ; his genial man- 
ners, which adorned alike the Executive Chamber and the social circle 
and which combined to win for him the universal respect and affection 
with which his memory will always be associated. 

Resolved, That Hon. Samuel Galloway, one of the members of this 
body, be requested to deliver this evening before the College and the 
public, an eulogy upon the life and character of the deceased. 

Resolved, That the following named gentlemen be requested to of- 
ficiate at the meeting for that purpose : As President, Governor R. B. 
Hayes ; as Vice-Presidents, Hon. James L. Bates and General George B. 
Wright ; as Chaplain, Rev. A. G. Byers ; as Secretaries. Morton E. 
Brazee and W. R. Thrall. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions and a copy of the pro- 
ceedings of the meeting, this evening, be furnished to the family of the 
deceased. 

The meeting in the evening was largely attended, Mr. Gal- 
loway delivering a most eloquent eulogy on the life and char- 
acter of Mr. Tod ; a most truthful and fitting tribute, full of 
evidence of Mr. Galloway's intimate acquaintance and. sincere 
regard for his friend and neighbor. The eulogy was delivered 
at the request of the Electors, who ordered it printed in pamph- 



Hon. David Tod. Ill 

let form, and thousands of copies of the proceedings and eulogy 
were distributed through the state and country. 

Such was the respect for him and feeling entertained to- 
ward him, that his funeral was attended by a number esti- 
mated at twenty thousand people. 

The people of the Mahoning Valley of all classes have long 
mourned his loss as their great friend, adviser and benefactor. 

Part II. 

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF DAVID TOD. 

My first acquaintance with David Tod was a few days after 
his election as Governor of Ohio, in 1861. I was then Quar- 
termaster General of Ohio, in the midst of active duties equip- 
ping and sending to the field volunteers for the Federal Army 
who were being called by the President to suppress the rebel- 
lion. He came into the ofhce with Governor Dennison, who 
introduced him to me as his successor. I was struck with his 
handsome, smooth-shaven face, and genial, cordial manner. He 
was about five feet, ten inches in height, stoutly built, and 
weighed about one hundred and ninety pounds ; a fine shaped 
head, with a prominent forehead ; bright, dark-brown eyes, with 
dark hair slightly tinged with gray. 

I was not only favorably impressed with his appearance and 
genial manner, but surprised at his request that I become a 
member of his staff and continue in my present position. I had 
known of him as a prominent Democratic politician, while I 
had always been a Whig and a Republican, and presumed, of 
course, that he would select his staff from his own party friends. 

I had known of Mr. Tod's election to the Legislature as 
State Senator from Trumbull county in 1839. I was familiar 
with his campaign for governor in 1844 on the Democratic 
ticket, and had taken part against him, and in favor of his 
Whig opponent, Mordecai Bartley. That was a very vigorous 
campaign on both sides in which great processions with flags 
and emblems, song singing, and displays of all kinds were in 
vogue. The custom of song singing in political campaigns had 



112 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. 

been introduced four years before when General Harrison and 
Martin Van Buren were opposing candidates for the presidency 
in 1840. John Greiner, of Columbus, was the Whig poet, and 
composed many songs satirizing the candidates from the Pres- 
ident to the candidate for the humblest position. One verse of 
a popular Whig song of 1840 will be remembered by those now 
living who were voters at that time : 

"Oh what has caused this great commotion 

Motion, motion — our country through? 
It is the ball a-rolling on 

For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too. 

For Tippecanoe and Tyler, too. 
And with them we'll beat little Van, 

Van, Van is a used up man 
And with them we'll beat little Van." 

The songs of 1844 were more prolific, and those of John 
Greiner were very popular. The following will serve as ex- 
amples : 

"At Lindenwold the fox was holed. 

And the coons all laughed 
When they heard it told 
Ha, ha, ha what a nominee 
Is James K. Polk of Tennessee." 

These are the first of a number of verses of the popular 
songs. 

"Soon after the great nomination 
Was held at Columbus so odd, 
There was quite a jollification 

At the residence of Governor Tod." 

"His mother, good, pious old lady. 
Her spectacles threw on the sod ; 
Good gracious ! Who would have thought, Davy 
Would ever be Governor Tod?" 

Mr. Tod was a hard money man, and in one of his stump 
speeches said he would "prefer pot metal money to shin-plas- 
ters." This saying gave him the name of "Pot Metal Tod." I 
remember in one of the processions of that year, a large wagon, 
drawn by eight horses, was laden with a cupola in full blast 



Hon. David Tod. 113 

molding "Tod Dollars," which were about two and one-half 
inches in diameter and half an inch thick ; on one side were 
the words "Tod Dollar." They were thrown into the street as 
fast as molded, and quickly gathered up by the crowd. I saw 
one of these dollars in Mr. Tod's ofhce at Brier Hill as late as 
1866, where it was used as a paper weight. Notwithstanding 
the state was largely Whig at that time, Mr. Tod was beaten 
by his Whig opponent, Mordecai Hartley, by less than twelve 
hundred votes. 

As minister to Brazil from 1847 to 185 1, he won great credit 
as a diplomat. His energy and success in developing the coal 
and other interests in the Mahoning Valley ; his career as First 
Vice-President at the Democratic National Convention at 
Charleston, South Carolina, and subsequently at Baltimore in 
i860, are all referred to in the preceding biography and need 
not be repeated here. 

It was at this interesting and prosperous period that the 
civil war broke out and fired the hearts of every lover of the 
Union at the North. William Dennison was then Governor of 
the State, and with patriotic zeal was doing all in his power 
under the greatest difihculties, to organize and place the State 
on a war footing to aid the Federal government in sustaining 
the Union. As the time drew near for the nomination of a 
Republican candidate for Governor in 1861, while many friends 
of Governor Dennison desired and advocated his re-nomina- 
tion, many eyes were turned with interest toward David Tod 
— a lifelong Democrat, but now recognized as a staunch Union 
man — as a suitable candidate for nomination. His previous 
record as a business man and high character for integrity and 
honor made him a popular candidate, and in October, 1861, 
he was elected as the Republican candidate by over eighty-five 
thousand majority. He had already shown his zeal in the cause 
of the Union by telegraphing the President, when the first call 
for volunteers was made, advising the call of three hundred 
thousand instead of sevent}-five thousand. He had raised and 
equipped, at his own expense, the first company of volunteers 
in Youngstown, and subscribed one thousand dollars to the 



114 Ohio Arch. a7id His. Society Publications . 

war fund of his own township. He thus entered upon his ad- 
ministration as Governor in January, 1862, with a mind and 
heart well fitted for the work. 

In his inaugural address before the Senate and House of 
Representatives on the 13th of January, 1862, he said, among 
other things: "On the great and absorbing question of the day 
— the war for the maintenance of our National existence — 
I am indebted to the friends of the Union for their generous 
selection, from the well-known fact that / ivas zvilling to sur- 
render everything but honor to quell the unholy rebellion. The 
more I reflect upon this important matter the more thoroughly 
am I convinced that the future welfare of ourselves, our chil- 
dren and our children's children depends upon preserving at 
all hazards the integrity of our National Union." 

It was during the civil war that I learned to know and es- 
teem Mr. Tod. For two years we were neighbors and were irt 
daily association, going to and from our homes to the State 
House. We visited Washington and the hospitals at Cincin- 
nati and Camp Dennison together, and when in the city, we 
visited Camp Chase nearly every week. Regiments were being 
organized there and thousands of Rebel prisoners were held. 
From the first call for volunteers to the end of his term he was 
ready with his counsel and purse in every way to aid the Ad- 
ministration in maintaining the Government. 

He was the intimate friend, co-worker and adviser of Pres- 
ident Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton, and in daily com- 
munication with them. Mr. Lincoln once said of him, "Gover- 
nor Tod has aided me more and troubled me less than any 
other Governor." This was doubtless for the reason that the 
Governor never asked for anything that was not, in his judg- 
ment, necessary and of vital importance to the welfare of the 
Ohio troops. By order of the Governor, I went to Wash- 
ington and spent a week with Secretary Stanton, asking for im- 
proved arms, equipments and other supplies for the Ohio sol- 
diers. Mr. Stanton said to me, "If you will be patient with us, 
the Ohio soldiers shall have the best arms and equipments the 
Government can procure." Such was the feeling of the Pres- 



Hon. David Tod. H5 

ident and Secretary Stanton — who was an Ohio man — to- 
wards Governor Tod and the Ohio soldiers. 

As soon as he entered upon his duties as Governor, he 
examined carefully the different departments of the State Gov- 
ernment and wherever he found it ncessary to introduce re- 
forms, adopted careful business methods. He exhibited rare 
ability for the duties imposed upon him and never sought to 
avoid responsibility. He ignored partisan politics and said to 
every one applying to him for civil or military appointments, 
"This is no political warfare, but a hand-to-hand struggle for 
the life of the Nation, and it is the duty of every citizen of 
Ohio to devote his best energies for that object." On this pa- 
triotic idea he strove to administer the duties of his ofifice. Of 
the thousands of appointments which he was called upon to 
make, he adopted, as far as possible, the Jeffersonian rule of 
"honesty, capability and faithfulness to the constitution." He 
was an excellent judge of men and possessed the rare "com- 
bination of talent, tact and human sympathy, seldom erring in 
his selection of men to fill responsible positions. To aid him in 
this and other important duties, he advised and secured the 
appointment of a military board of citizens in most of the con- 
gressional districts of the State, chosen by the loyal citizens 
themselves. With these committees he was constantly in com- 
munication, thus learning the character of the men seeking ser- 
vice, also the general feeling throughout the State towards the 
administration at Washington and the conduct of the war. He 
was anxious to enlist his Democratic friends in the cause of the 
Union. 

He soon learned, however, that many of his old political 
friends and associates were in sympathy with the South and 
would not be enlisted actively in support of the war. He be- 
came more and more convinced of this as time went on, but 
this only bound him closer to Mr. Lincoln and the administra- 
tion and carried him farther and farther away from his old Dem- 
ocratic allies until he became notorious as a hater of copper- 
heads, as those persons were called who opposed the war and 
its prosecution. He was accused of being arbitrary and des- 
potic, but he was always kind and conciliatory and strove in all 



116 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Piihlications. 

cases to be just, even to those whom he knew were opposed 
to the administration, but he never hesitated in carrying out 
the orders of the War Department, even if it involved the ar- 
rest of persons accused of treason. 

He never faltered in his support of Mr. Lincoln, and when 
it was known that the proclamation of freedom to the slaves 
would be issued as a war measure, while many good men doubted 
its policy and not a few pronounced it unconstitutional and 
tyrannical, Governor Tod never for a moment wavered, but 
both publicly and privately endorsed and approved it. When 
\ allandigham was tried and convicted of treason by a court- 
martial, he advised the President to send him into the rebel 
territory instead of executing the sentence against him. In 
the darkest periods of the war, when the Federal armies were 
meeting with defeat, he often said to me, "We must stand by 
Mr. Lincoln ; he knows better than any of us what is best, and 
this accursed rebellion must and will be put down." "Then it 
was that Governor Tod began to ascend from the eminence of 
party leader to the mountain height of loftiest patriotism." He 
exhibited, in a marked degree, the attributes of firmness, tem- 
pered with justice, benevolence and kindness to the unfortun- 
ate ; sagacity and tact combined with unflinching integrity, and 
with all, a remarkable endowment of common sense were marked 
features of this character. To these must be added his social 
qualities and his ready wit and humor. He was sometimes 
grave and thovightful, but never morose or out of temper. He 
endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact, and to 
the sorrowful and afflicted he always had a kind and cheerful 
word. 

His short, but earnest speeches to the regiments and com- 
panies about to leave for the battle fields were full of patriotic 
sympathy and good advice. He called them his brothers and 
boys, and cautioned them to be careful of their health, to be 
temperate and always obedient to orders of their officers ; to 
have coolness, patience and courage under all trying circum- 
stances ; to save their money and send it to their friends at 
home ; that they w'ere bound on a glorious mission, the pro- 
tection and preservation of the best government in the world. 




en 

O 

P 
O 

o 

m 

Q 

H- ( 

w 

to 
Q 
O 

to 



Hon. David Tod. 117 

and the prayers and best wishes of all loyal people would go 
with them ; that upon their good service might depend the 
future of our glorious Union. He assured them that every 
act of courage and bravery would be known at home and re- 
warded by a generous government. These addresses were re- 
ceived with enthusiastic cheers and responses of: "We will, 
we will." 

He visited Camp Chase prisoners often and satisfied him- 
self that they were well fed and cared for. To the sick pris- 
oners he was especially kind, allowing them to see their friends. 
Mrs. Thurman, wife of Senator Thurman, a southern lady 
by birth and of a most benevolent and kind (lis])osition, was 
allowed to visit and minister to sick prisoners at her pleasure. 
An order that the prisoners should deposit all their money >in 
my hands, to be drawn out in small sums, subject to his ap- 
proval, was strongly objected to at first, but finally became 
popular with the prisoners themselves, as every dollar was sac- 
redly kept and any balance remaining at the time of their dis- 
charge or exchange was paid over to them. 

During his term, many of the best young men of the 
South were taken prisoners and sent to Camp Chase prison ; 
some of these young men were sons or neighbors of his po- 
litical friends whom he had known before the war. To these 
and all other prisoners he was kind and courteous, granting 
them every privilege consistent with orders and regulations of 
the War Department. 

One of the features of Governor Tod's administration was 
his noble and generous charity. To every object for the pro- 
motion of Union sentiment, for the aid- of societies caring for 
sick and wounded soldiers, for the promotion of enlistments 
in the army, and in every other charitable movement, he was 
a conspicuous and liberal giver. The day he had been Gov- 
ernor six months he contributed his entire salary as Gover- 
nor, up to that date, to the bounty fund for raising volun- 
teers to fill up the depleted regiments in the field. He never 
allowed a mother, wife or sister of a sick or wounded soldier 
on their way to visit the loved one in camp, or nospital, to 
Vol. VIII— 2 



118 Ohio Arch, afid His. Society Publications . 

leave his office empty handed, or without a kind and cheering 
word. He would send an order to me for a ticket of transpor- 
tation to the place of destination and return, and would then see 
to it that they had sufficient to meet their expenses, supplying 
what was necessary from his own purse. 

I was in his office one day when a Methodist minister 
called who had been made Chaplain to one of the Ohio Reg- 
iments. The Governor greeted him cordially. It appeared that 
the Chaplain had officiated at the funeral of the Governor's 
mother, to whose memory he was devotedly attached. He told 
the Chaplain "his mother was an angel in Heaven and her 
spirit was constantly watching over him, and that when he left 
this world he was certain of being with her again." After a 
short interview with the Chaplain he turned to his secretary, 
Judge Hoffman, and told him to fill up a check for one hun- 
dred dollars, which he handed to the Chaplain as a slight me- 
morial to his mother. 

He and his family entertained royally at their home in Co- 
lumbus, living at the time on Town street in the house now 
owned and occupied by Mr. D. S. Gray. The Governor was 
a delightful and welcome guest at all social gatherings. He 
was quick and responsive in conversation and attracted every 
one to him. I spent a delightful afternoon with him on New 
Year's Day of 1863, calling on friends and neighbors, for it 
was then the custom to make New Year's calls. 

As an instance of his quick and ready wit, I recall a din- 
ner party given by Mr. and Mrs. William Deshler in honor of 
Salmon P. Chase, then Secretary of the Treasury of the United 
States, who was making a short visit to Columbus. Among the 
twenty or thirty guests present was the Rev. Granville Moody, 
the "fighting parson," as he was called. He was Colonel of 
the Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at that time 
was in command at Camp Chase. As the guests were assem- 
bled around the table, the Rector of the church, where the 
family attended, was about to invoke a blessing, when Colonel 
Moody, without invitation, arose and commenced praying for 
the host, hostees, and family, for the honored g:iests, for the 
President of the United States and members of his Cabinet, 



Ho7i. David Tod. 119 

for the Judges of the United States Supreme Court, for the 
Generals of the Union Army, for the Governor of the State, 
and so on, until the soup was getting cold and the guests im- 
patient, when he finally pronounced "Amen." Immediately the 
Governor at the other end of the table called out, 'Why 
Colonel, you forgot the 74th Regiment." This convulsed those 
present with laughter, embarrassment was removed, all were 
in good humor, and the dinner proved a great success. 

The following anecdote is told of Mr. Lincoln and Gov- 
ernor Tod : 

One evening while visiting the White House Mr. Lin- 
coln said, "Look here, Tod, how is it that you spell your name 
with only one d. I married a Todd, but she spelled her name 
with two d's. All of her relations do the same. You are the 
first Tod I ever knew who spelled his name with so few let- 
ters." Mr. Tod, smiling, replied, "Mr. President, God spells 
His name with only one d, and what is good enough for God, 
is good enough for me." President Lincoln used to repeat this 
story to some of his intimate friends with great hilarity. 

I called on Mr. Lincoln with Governor Tod in the fall of 
1863. We found Mr. Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward 
alone together. After our reception and a short interview on 
general matters. Governor Tod asked the following question : 
"Mr. President, how many candidates are there in your cabi- 
net for President?" There had been much discussion among 
Republicans as to the propriety of renominating Mr. Lincoln 
for a second term. It was known that Mr. Chase and his 
friends were actively engaged in promoting his nomination over 
Mr. Lincoln. The friends of Mr. Seward were also hoping that 
he might be nominated in case of a contest. In reply to Gov- 
ernor Tod's question the President said: "Governor, your ques- 
tion reminds me of an experience I once had when practicing 
law in Illinois. One day a rather seedy looking man called 
at my office with a bundle under his arm, and requested to 
see me privately. I took him into my back room, when he 
told me he had invented a new augur to turn with a crank 
instead of the old-fashioned way, and if I approved of it he 
desired me to procure a patent for him. He unfolded his bun- 



120 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. 

ble and exhibited his model. I procured a plank and told him 
to bore a hole in it. He set the augur and began to turn the 
crank. But we discovered that he had set the screw the wrong 
way, and instead of boring itself in, it bored itself oj^f." It 
proved a very apt illustration in the following almost imani- 
mous nomination and election of Mr. Lincoln. After this Mr. 
Seward and Governor Tod each told an anecdote, and the in- 
terview ended. 

In visiting the Capitol the next day, while in the hall of 
the Senate Chamber, I asked the Governor if he was not go- 
ing to enter the Senate. He replied, '*No, not until the people 
of Ohio send me there." He then had an idea, I think, that 
he might be elected to the Senate after the close of his term 
as Governor. 

While on this visit to Washington an evening reception 
was given to the President and his Cabinet, and a few dis- 
tinguished guests. In the course of the evening the President 
was talking to a circle of friends around him, among whom was 
his Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Wells. The President re- 
marked that he had made a very interesting visit to the hos- 
pital that day. That he found one poor fellow approaching 
near his end, and he asked him if he could do anything for 
him. The soldier replied, "Mr. President, if you could only 
send for my grandmother, I think I could die happy after see- 
ing her. She raised me, and I am very fond of her." I asked 
him where she lived, and he said in Iowa. I told him it would 
be impossible to get his grandmother there. "Oh, well," he 
said, "Mr. IJncoln, if you could send Secretary Wells to see 
me it would be a great comfort. He looks exactly like my 
grandmother." 

Governor Tod and I were at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 
together on the loth of November, 1863, at the dedication of 
the National Cemetery, and sat near Mr. Lincoln when he de- 
livered that memorable address of less than two hundred and 
fifty words, and occupied less than ten minutes, while the ad- 
dress of Mr. Everett, the orator of the day, was nearly an hoi«r 
in delivery. Whenever reference is made to that memorable 
occasion, we recall his words: "We are met on a great battle- 



Hon. David Tod. 121 

field of the war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that 
field as a final resting place for those who gave their lives that 
this Nation might live. * * * B^t in a larger sense we 
cannot dedicate, we cannot commemorate, we cannot hallow 
this ground. * * * Jt is rather for us to be dedicated to 
the great task remaining before us, that from these honored 
dead we take increased dovtion to that cause for which they 
gave the last full measure of devotion ; that we here highly re- 
solve that these dead shall not have died in vain ; that this Nation 
under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that gov- 
ernment of the people, by the people and for the people shall 
not perish from the earth." 

Mr. Lincoln congratulated Mr. Everett on his able ora- 
tion. In reply Mr. Everett said, "Mr. President, your short 
address will be remembered and cjuoted when I am gone and 
my oration long forgotten." 

The years of 1862 and '63 were probably the most anxious 
period of the war to the loyal people of the North. Our Union 
army had met with severe repulse at Arkansas Post and at 
Stone River. A large element of the population of the State 
was hostile to the policy of the administration, and did not 
hesitate to criticise and find fault. It was reported that let- 
ters were written to soldiers in the field advising them to de- 
sert and come home and they would be protected from ar- 
rest. A powerful, secret, disloyal organization existed in this 
and other states, whose object was to cripple the administra- 
tion and put a stop to the war. Demands were made upon 
Mr. Lincoln to withdraw the army from the field and treat 
for peace. The Democratic party in its National Convention 
solemnly pronounced the war a failure. Clement L. Vallan- 
digham had returned to the state and was the favorite of his 
party for Governor ; he was stumping the state and his meet- 
ings were largely attended, much enthusiasm being manifested. 
Great fear was felt by many that the next state election might 
result unfavorably to the Union cause. It was not until the 
surrender of A^icksburg on the 4th of July, and the terrible 
battle of Gettysburg was fought, followed by the battles of Look- 
out Mountain, Mission Ridge and Chattanooga, that the tide be- 



122 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. 

gan to turn in favor of the Union cause and patriotic Union 
men began to take heart. These victories inspired the hopes 
of many, but it did not lessen the zeal and bitterness of the 
opponents of the Government. 

Some of the men not friendly to Governor Tod began to 
discuss the question of his re-nomination for Governor, as had 
been done in the case of his predecessor, Governor Dennison. 
Governor Tod had, of course, made some enemies, but a large 
majority of the Union men in Ohio, and of the Ohio soldiers 
in the field, were believed to be friendly to him and desired his 
re-nomination. A few disappointed place-seekers opposed this 
and began to cast about for a man to succeed him. John Brough 
had been a popular and successful Democratic candidate for Au- 
ditor of State in 1839. One member of the Legislature from 
Washington county, together with a gentleman of this city, who 
was a politician and had favored the nomination and election 
of Mr. Tod and labored in the campaign, had become ofifended 
at the Government failing to appoint a friend of his to some 
position. These two gentlemen conceived the idea of writing 
to Mr. Brough, then General Manager of the Bellefontaine 
Railway, with headquarters at Indianapolis, but having a resi- 
dence in Cleveland. They accordingly united in a letter to Mr. 
Brough, asking if he would allow his name to be used as a 
nominee for Governor on the Republican ticket. Mr. Brough 
replied, modestly, that Tod was a good Governor, but that in 
such times as these, every man should be willing to accept any 
call to duty for his country, etc. 

This was sufificient encouragement and these gentlemen 
went to Cincinnati, enlisted William Henry Smith, then Man- 
ager of the Cincinnati Gazette, in favor of Brough's nomina- 
tion, and from that time became the manager of the Brough cam- 
paign. A meeting was arranged for Mr. Brough at Marietta ; 
it was largely attended and Mr. Brough made a long and pa- 
triotic speech in favor of the Union cause, giving the key-note 
for the next Republican campaign. This speech was published 
in the Commcreial Gazette and other papers, and liberally dis- 
tributed. Through Mr. Smith's influence the whole Republi- 
can press of the southern part of the state joined in the sup- 



Hon. David Tod. 123 

port of Mr. Brough, while the press of the northern part of 
the state adhered to Governor Tod for renomination. The 
Gazette and other southern papers harped upon the unpopular- 
ity of Governor Tod with the soldiers (which was not true). 
Mis action in securing the summary dismissal of Colonel Ma- 
son, of the 71st O. V. Infantry, charged with cowardice, was 
commented on unfavorably. 

When the delegates met for the nomination of a candi- 
date, the friends of Brough were very active and zealous. At 
the nominating convention only one division of the army in 
the field was represented, and the soldier vote at the election 
of Brough was only 41,467, when at the same time we had over 
160,000 soldiers in the field entitled to vote. Who was 
to blame for the failure of representation of the large num- 
ber of soldiers, I have never learned. At the nominating con- 
vention Brough received 216 votes and Tod 193, giving 
Brough the nomination by twenty-three majority. As soon as 
the vote was announced. Governor Tod rose on the platform 
and heartily endorsed the nomination, pledging his earnest sup- 
port of the ticket, which was given, up to the day of the elec- 
tion. This was regarded as a wonderful exhibition of mag- 
nanimity by a candidate who, only a few hours before, felt con- 
fident of his nomination, as did many others. His speech was 
warmly applauded, and many who were present were moved to 
tears by Governor Tod's patriotic and earnest appeal for unity 
and harmony, and their disappointment at his defeat. And 
several who had voted for Brough said publicly, "We have made 
a mistake, we ought to have voted for Tod." The general feel- 
ing was then, and has been ever since, that a great injustice 
had been done to a most worthy citizen in not re-nominating 
him for a second term. But this was not a time of second term 
governors ; Dennison was only given one term ; Brough failed 
for a second term for precisely the same alleged reasons that 
had been urged against Governor Tod's re-nomination ; and 
the next Governor, General J. D. Cox, was only given one 
term ; thus, in eight years the state had four governors. 

Brough was not even named for re-nomination at the Re- 
publican State Convention in June, 1865, but General J. D. Cox 



124 Ohio Arch, and His. Society Publications. 

was nominated by acclamation. Brongh died on August 28th, 
1865, and Lieutenant-Governor Charles Anderson filled the of- 
fice until January, 1866, when General Cox was inaugurated. 

After the election and Mr. Brough's inauguration, Gov- 
eiMior Tod retired to his Brier Hill home, where he was happy 
and contented, looking after his large and prosperous business. 
I saw him frequently after his executive term closed, and once 
enjoyed a delightful visit with him and his family at Brier Hill. 
He always bore the same cheerful, buoyant spirit, and gloried 
in the preservation of the Union, to which he was so devoted, 
notwithstanding the enormous sacrifices involved. 

On Mr. Chase's resignation of the office of Secretary of 
the Treasury, Mr. Lincoln telegraphed to Mr. Tod tendering 
him the place, which he immediately declined, fearing his health 
would not enable him to assume the important duties. He had 
more than once been threatened with the malady that finally 
ended his life. 

After the defeat of Mr. Tod for re-nomination for Gover- 
nor in 1863, and the election of John Brough, the many friends 
of Mr. Tod, anxious to show their appreciation of his ser- 
vices as Governor, advocated his election as United States Sen- 
ator at the end of Mr. Chase's term, who had resigned in 1861 
to become Secretary of the Treasury, and John Sherman had 
been elected to fill the vacancy. I know, personally, that Mr. 
Tod desired to be a Senator, but he would make no active can- 
vass for the position. He said every office he had ever held 
came to him unsolicited, and any other must come in the same 
way. Besides, the many friends of John Sherman felt that he 
would be entitled to re-election after serving out the unexpired 
term of Mr. Chase. Mr. Sherman's following was large in the 
state, and the Republicans of the Legislature were nearly unani- 
mous for him ; he wa-s elected Senator and Mr. Tod's name 
was not presented. Soon after his defeat for renomination as 
fiovernor, his friends spoke of him as a worthy candidate for 
delegate at large for the Electoral College of Ohio, and in Feb- 
ruary, 1864, I wrote to Mr. Tod informing him of this. On 
February 24, 1864, he replied as follows : 




BRIER HILL FURNACR. 



Hon. David Tod. 125 

Brier Hill, Oh40, February 24, 1864. 
General Geo. B. Wright, 

Columbus, Ohio. 

My Dear General : — Your favor of the 18th is at hand. I am proud 
to know that I have the confidence of so many good men as you name. 
It will be inconvenient for me to attend the Convention. Indeed, I would 
feel awkward in personally soliciting the position I desire. If the dele- 
gates in attendance do not think it for the interest of the cause we have 
at heart to place my name upon the ticket, I do not desire to have it 
placed there, and in writing you on the subject, I only desired to have 
it known that I would feel honored by the position. 

Very truly yours, 

David Tod. 

This letter is characteristic of him ; he was not an office 
seeker, but was always ready to respond to the call of duty to 
his country, of which he was an ardent lover. At the follow- 
ing election in November he was elected a presidential elector 
at large. But his death occurring on the 13th of November. 
1868, he was not privileged to cast his vote for General Grant, 
as he would have done had his life been spared. The action of 
the Electoral College on the death of Governor Tod is given 
in the foregoing biography. 

I attended Mr. Tod's funeral at Brier Hill, which was the 
largest assembly of the kind, except that of President Lincoln, 
that I have ever witnessed. The number present was estimated 
to be over twenty thousand. Governor Hayes, who was present, 
made some appropriate remarks as to the life and character of 
the deceased. 



\ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



013 704 268 n ^ 



^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



013 704 268 A 4^ 



